Create Your Own Portable Design Wall (It's Easy!)

By Craftsy

While we'd all love a quilting room
with a huge design wall, not everyone has an entire wall that they can dedicate full-time to crafting. So we turned to Bluprint instructor Nancy Smith
, who shared a great idea for a space-efficient portable alternative. Just use it anywhere and stash it in any room or closet — no wall space required.

Here's what to do:

Step 1:

Using your utility knife, cut the foam core to your desired dimensions. (We chose to cut multiple smaller boards, but you can go as big or small as suits your needs.)

Step 2:

Using your scissors or rotary cutter, cut a piece of batting large enough to cover the front of your board and fold over onto the back. (No need to completely cover the back of the board — just make sure enough batting is available to attach the edges to your board.)

Step 3:

Iron your batting to smooth out any wrinkles.

Step 4:

Apply spray glue or preferred adhesive to the front of your board.

Step 5:

Center batting, attach it to the adhesive and let dry.

Step 6:

Apply spray glue or preferred adhesive to the sides of your board, as well as the area on the back where you will attach your batting.

Step 7:

Fold batting over the sides and onto the back of the board, attaching it to your adhesive as you go. (On the back, fold the excess fabric at the corners as you would a gift.)

Step 8:

Your design wall is ready! If you'd like to hang it, you can do so safely by following the directions on your 3M Command™ Strips packaging.

Step 9:

To use use your design wall, just stick fabric pieces straight to the batting — no pins required!

Get more expert tips for getting your makerspace ready for quilting season here
.

Fact: sewing your quilt (or a smaller project, like pillow tops and table runners) by hand provides a soft finish that really can’t be achieved by machines. Not to mention there isn't anything that beats the zen of sewing something with needle and thread. If you're interested in trying the craft, these tips — along with the right supplies — can help you get started.

While there are hundreds of quilting gadgets on the market these days, when you're new to the craft it's best to start with the basics. So skip the fancy-pants gizmos — for now — and stock up on these important quilting tools that'll help make your first quilt a success.

Bias tape is a great way to bind, or seal in, raw edges. And while it’s commonly used as quilt binding, you can actually incorporate it into a variety of projects, whether you need to sew a face mask or want to add a fun design element to a garment. Here’s how to create the durable, stretchy tape — even if you don’t have a bias tape maker on hand.

Selvages run the entire length of a fabric bolt, and many people consider them to be garbage, cutting them off and throwing away without a second thought. But this finished end of your fabric can be handy in a project. After all, it's so tightly woven you don't have to worry about fraying. Here are some tips for putting 'em to good use.

Rule number one: don't throw out those fabric scraps, even the thinnest of strips. After all, you can use 'em to make a totally new project — like a string quilt! These block are simple to quilt and make use of every bit of your fabric stash. What's not to love?

Picture this: you go to the fabric store, pick out the perfect materials for your next project, and come home only to realize that — doh — you already have great fabric you could have used tucked away in a forgotten corner of your sewing room.

If you're a quilter or sewist, you've probably come across bias tape before. And while it's commonly used for quilt binding, there are a ton of ways you can incorporate bias tape into any project. The best part, though, may be just how easy it is to make yourself.

There's more than one way to bind a quilt, and this method just so happens to be one of the most quirky and fun. Prairie points are folded triangles made from fabric squares, and can be used to decorate table runners, pillows, tea towels and — you guessed it — quilt edges. Plus, finishing your quilt with a prairie point binding is just as easy as it is fun — here's what you need to know to make it happen.

Sometimes there isn't enough time to make an entire quilt for your husband, father or brother, especially if Father's Day or V-Day is right around the corner. But there's no need to stress — you can still flex your quilting muscles to create something perfect for them, fast. These gifts all come together quickly, and your guy is sure to love each one.

Bright, floral quilts are definitely lovable, but sometimes you want a pattern that's a little more masculine. And while the word "masculine" is totally subjective, in general we're talking quilts in more neutral colors, or those that steer clear of circles and other curvy shapes.

You know how, no matter how many amazing TV shows or movies air, you still have your go-to favorites; the ones you watch over and over again? Yeah, same thing happens here. These are the best quilting classes to fire up whenever you're in need of an extra dose of inspo or want to brush up on skills.

Clean, straight-line quilting is always the goal, but stitching them can be challenging. The secret to success? Marking your lines correctly. Thankfully, there's more than one way to get 'em just so. Play around with these tools and soon enough you'll have beautifully straight quilting lines every. single. time.

Batting seems like it ought to be a stress-free topic. After all, its entire job is to make things soft and comfy. Yet choosing the right one for your project can be totally confusing. There's cotton versus polyester, tons of different brands, issues like fiber content and loft — the list goes on and on. Luckily, these tips provide the insight you need to navigate the batting aisle like a total boss.

Fact: there's no better way for quilters to celebrate the Fourth of July than by stitching a scrappy flag quilt block. Your only decision: whether to make it your only patriotic quilt project, or the first of many!

You can't have a Fourth of July celebration without one very important thing: a quilted patriotic project! Whether you make a full-blown quilt, a star-spangled table runner or a red, white and blue mug rug, these patterns are sure to set off fireworks.

This year, make one of your quilting projects a little greener — and not the color green. Instead of buying more fabric, look for materials you already have around your home. It brings new life to pre-loved clothing, is easy on your wallet and maximizes your resources. What's not to love?

Real talk: sometimes crafting can use a lot of materials (that aren't exactly cheap). You can save your bank account some strife and show Mother Earth a lot of love by upcycling what you already have — here's how.

You don't need a longarm quilting machine to finish your quilt — stitch it with an embroidery machine instead! By quilting in the hoop, you can create quilts block by block, in long strips or stitch 'em whole. And with all the options your embroidery machine has, you can make quilts as simple or complex as you want.

Having a dedicated space for quilting is like having a little haven in your house. But with constant WIPs and late-night quilting sessions (especially for fans of the Midnight Quilt Show), it's easy for your studio to turn from sanctuary to stressful. But don't sweat — it's simple to keep your quilting room organized, especially if you follow these hacks.

St. Patrick's Day is all about green clothes, green beer and, for crafters, green quilts. In honor of the Irish holiday, choose any of the patterns below and start stitching a quilt that's sure to leave others feelin' green with envy.